Hawkins Co. Juvenile Court Judge cited for ethics violation

ROGERSVILLE — The Tennessee Court of the Judiciary, which polices judges across the state, accused Hawkins County Juvenile Court Judge James Taylor Tuesday of violating judicial ethics for his participation in a plan to install a display in the Justice Center lobby that would include the Ten Commandments. On Tuesday, the Court of the Judiciary filed a formal charge against Taylor, which has penalties ranging from public reprimand up to removal from the bench. The Court of the Judiciary, which is based in Nashville, gave Taylor 30 days to respond to the charge. The charge stems from a complaint filed by a Morristown attorney claiming that Taylor addressed the Hawkins County Commission regarding the proposed Citizens Heritage Display, as well as solicited funds from local churches. The display is called “Foundations of American Law and Government.” Read the expanded version of this report in the Kingsport Times-News print edition or its enhanced electronic edition.